A Boundless Banquet - September 8, 2018
Trust me, there is nothing better than partying with women in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. I know, cuz that’s what I did Tuesday afternoon.
My dear friend Audrey – who happens to be my daughter Anna’s mother-in-law – and I both have a friend at Jelly Bean Seniors’ Village. I’ll call her “Phyllis” but that is not her real name. Not even close.
Jelly Bean Seniors’ Village (not the real name) has a variety of living situations – from completely independent condo-like living to complete care. Audrey’s and my mutual friend “Phyllis” has had to move from condo-like (C-L) to complete care (CC) – and she misses her old life and her friends of many years so much.
Que faire? (What to do?) What if we were to have a party at C-L and bring Phyllis to it? But it can’t just be any kind of party. It has to be Girl Guide Cookies (and Ice Cream) for a variety of reasons.
Number one is that the Glauser family (Anna, Neal and Emma) gave me a carton of Girl Guide cookies to run wild, run free with. Secondly, many of the ladies at Jelly Bean Seniors’ Village have been Girl Guides or Leaders! No kidding, one of the ladies has her pins and badges from decades ago.
And thirdly, when you live in seniors’ housing, it’s not as easy to get GG cookies. Think about it. It’s unlikely that your “grands” and “great grands” are going to live within easy driving distance of you – and by that, I mean them driving to you. And you may no longer drive. So how do you get to the mall on a regular basis where you happen to stumble upon some bright-eyed cookies sellers?
Hence, the Girl Guide Cookie (and Ice Cream) party! We announced the get-together all around Condo-Like and we had 28 people (or more) show up. OK, it was 28 ladies. We weren’t being sexist. It’s that women still outlive men by more than a few years. I think an affinity for GG-like things could be part of that. Badges for home skills, handywoman, being a friend to those in need, healthy eating, physical fitness, first aid, engineering, sportswoman, and rifle shot. But I digress.
I brought our friend Phyllis from CC to C-L – along with all the accessories (cookies, ice cream, bowls, and spoons) - to the multi purpose room. We chuckled about my driving. I’m no better at pushing a wheelchair than I am maneuvering our van. Once we arrived, Phyllis sat facing the doorway to greet her dear friends as they arrived. And arrive they did. And – as happily – eat they did. Audrey and I saw a couple of boxes and a large container of ice cream get consumed. If you’re reading this and you are in your 20 to 60s, you’re concerned with keeping weight off. But at a certain point, it’s all about keeping weight on.
By 4 pm we were all getting tuckered out. Audrey brought Phyllis home; I assured Phyllis that Audrey is much better driver than me. And I did a bit of clean up. (Not much. These ladies are very efficient.) And off I went, with a much lighter load.
If you were to ask me what the prayer “thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” looks like, it’s this very thing. Abundant food, loving friendships, meaningful living, affordable housing, funded health care. And so much JOY!
My current favourite Gospel story is Jesus’s telling of “The Great (Or Boundless) Banquet.” A place where all are welcomed and all are cared for. For my favourite version, check out the Saddleback Kids Cartoon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEbwiQvo5k4 I love that Jesus is presented as very chill and homespun, and says things like “Hey-oh” and “Oh hey guys!”
My dear friend Audrey – who happens to be my daughter Anna’s mother-in-law – and I both have a friend at Jelly Bean Seniors’ Village. I’ll call her “Phyllis” but that is not her real name. Not even close.
Jelly Bean Seniors’ Village (not the real name) has a variety of living situations – from completely independent condo-like living to complete care. Audrey’s and my mutual friend “Phyllis” has had to move from condo-like (C-L) to complete care (CC) – and she misses her old life and her friends of many years so much.
Que faire? (What to do?) What if we were to have a party at C-L and bring Phyllis to it? But it can’t just be any kind of party. It has to be Girl Guide Cookies (and Ice Cream) for a variety of reasons.
Number one is that the Glauser family (Anna, Neal and Emma) gave me a carton of Girl Guide cookies to run wild, run free with. Secondly, many of the ladies at Jelly Bean Seniors’ Village have been Girl Guides or Leaders! No kidding, one of the ladies has her pins and badges from decades ago.
And thirdly, when you live in seniors’ housing, it’s not as easy to get GG cookies. Think about it. It’s unlikely that your “grands” and “great grands” are going to live within easy driving distance of you – and by that, I mean them driving to you. And you may no longer drive. So how do you get to the mall on a regular basis where you happen to stumble upon some bright-eyed cookies sellers?
Hence, the Girl Guide Cookie (and Ice Cream) party! We announced the get-together all around Condo-Like and we had 28 people (or more) show up. OK, it was 28 ladies. We weren’t being sexist. It’s that women still outlive men by more than a few years. I think an affinity for GG-like things could be part of that. Badges for home skills, handywoman, being a friend to those in need, healthy eating, physical fitness, first aid, engineering, sportswoman, and rifle shot. But I digress.
I brought our friend Phyllis from CC to C-L – along with all the accessories (cookies, ice cream, bowls, and spoons) - to the multi purpose room. We chuckled about my driving. I’m no better at pushing a wheelchair than I am maneuvering our van. Once we arrived, Phyllis sat facing the doorway to greet her dear friends as they arrived. And arrive they did. And – as happily – eat they did. Audrey and I saw a couple of boxes and a large container of ice cream get consumed. If you’re reading this and you are in your 20 to 60s, you’re concerned with keeping weight off. But at a certain point, it’s all about keeping weight on.
By 4 pm we were all getting tuckered out. Audrey brought Phyllis home; I assured Phyllis that Audrey is much better driver than me. And I did a bit of clean up. (Not much. These ladies are very efficient.) And off I went, with a much lighter load.
If you were to ask me what the prayer “thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” looks like, it’s this very thing. Abundant food, loving friendships, meaningful living, affordable housing, funded health care. And so much JOY!
My current favourite Gospel story is Jesus’s telling of “The Great (Or Boundless) Banquet.” A place where all are welcomed and all are cared for. For my favourite version, check out the Saddleback Kids Cartoon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEbwiQvo5k4 I love that Jesus is presented as very chill and homespun, and says things like “Hey-oh” and “Oh hey guys!”